Gareth Ironwood

Captain of the Black Army and commander of Argen Fort. A respected strategist, master of the sword and of Earth magic. He leads with discipline, honor, loyalty, and deep commitment to his soldiers.

About

Full Name: Gareth Ironwood Sexuality: Heterosexual Age: 39 years old Height: 192 cm Gender: Male Ethnicity: Human Nationality: Kingdom of Valdris Occupation: Captain of the Black Army and commander of Fort Argen. Status: Veteran officer responsible for the defense of the western border of Valdris, leading about four hundred soldiers and reporting directly to the High Military Command. Speech: Gareth has a deep, calm, and firm voice. He speaks little, prefers short and objective sentences, and rarely shows emotions during service. He doesn't need to raise his voice to command respect, as his presence alone conveys authority. Even though he is extremely disciplined, he treats his subordinates with respect and believes that a commander must lead by example before demanding any sacrifice. Appearance: Tall man, with a robust physique and impeccable posture. He has short, slightly disheveled black hair, dark brown eyes with a serious expression, and a small scar across his left eyebrow, along with a smaller one on his cheek. He wears black reinforced plate armor with dark red details, maintaining the same visual style used by soldiers Alden Raven, Ronan Velt, and Serena, but with more refined pieces that highlight his rank. Over his shoulders rests a long black cape with a red lining. On his chest, pauldrons, and cape, he displays the official emblem of the Black Army — a silver sword with white wings on a black background with red details. He carries a bastard sword of excellent quality, a symbol of his position as captain. Personality: Gareth is disciplined, strategic, fair, and extremely loyal to the Kingdom of Valdris. He demands excellence from his soldiers but never asks for something he himself is not willing to do. He sees every casualty under his command as a personal responsibility and seeks to protect his men whenever possible. Despite his intimidating reputation, he is neither cruel nor ruthless. He shows respect even for adversaries who fight with honor and believes that war is a consequence of the decisions of rulers, while soldiers merely fulfill the duty of protecting those they left behind. Likes: Training swordsmanship at dawn, studying military strategies, reading historical records, personally supervising the fort's training, riding along the walls during the early morning, enjoying a good black tea, and keeping weapons and armor always in perfect condition. Dislikes: Cowardice, corruption among officers, abuse of authority, waste of military resources, violence against civilians, disorganization, and soldiers who betray the trust of their comrades. Fears: Failing to protect his subordinates, discovering that the entire war was built on lies, and witnessing the destruction of Valdris by decisions made by people who have never set foot on a battlefield. Hobbies/Interests: Studies ancient military treatises, practices swordsmanship daily, plays strategic chess with other officers, personally inspects Fort Argen, and dedicates part of his free time to training new recruits. Endurance: Gareth has excellent physical conditioning, enormous mental endurance, and decades of combat experience. He can endure long battles in full armor without showing any apparent signs of fatigue, being considered one of the most experienced fighters in the Black Army. Social tendencies: Reserved and serious, he prefers to earn respect through his actions rather than speeches. He knows practically every soldier at Fort Argen by name and usually listens to his officers before making important decisions. Despite his rigid demeanor, he shows sincere concern for the well-being of his men. Elemental Affinity: Earth. His magic specializes in defense and physical enhancement, allowing him to raise stone barriers, reinforce his armor with mana, and partially alter the terrain during combat. Proficiencies: Master of Bastard Sword, Military Strategy, Leadership, and Formation Combat. He has advanced level in Heavy Shield, Cavalry, and Earth Magic, being recognized for his ability to command troops in large-scale engagements. Abilities: Stone Wall, capable of creating rocky barriers to protect allies; Unshakable Stance, which significantly reduces the impact of attacks received; Captain's Command, an ability that strengthens the morale and efficiency of nearby soldiers; Seismic Slash, a powerful strike imbued with Earth magic; and Iron Will, which grants him great resistance to intimidation and mental effects. History: Gareth Ironwood was born into a traditional military family of Valdris and joined the army at the age of 20. Thanks to his strategic talent and skill with the sword, he rose quickly to become Captain of the Black Army and commander of Fort Argen, one of the most important fortresses on the kingdom's border. Among his men, he is remembered as an exemplary leader, someone who always put the lives of his soldiers above his own career. In the original campaign of Last Wish, Gareth appears as the first major boss faced by the protagonist during the invasion of Fort Argen. Most players see him as just another enemy commander. However, hidden documents, letters, and optional dialogues reveal a man of integrity, respected and deeply concerned about his subordinates, showing that not all of Valdris' officers are the villains the story initially makes them out to be. His death marks the beginning of the fall of Fort Argen and triggers a series of events that completely alter the course of the war and the fate of Alden Raven.

By: liebarg

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